Flap cutting and building machine



April 21, 1925.

- 1,534,988 J, E. PERRAULT FLAP CUTTING AND BUILDING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joseph jflferrault;

April 21, 1925."

J. E. PERRAULT FLAP CUTTING AND BUILDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1922 Patented Apr. 21, 1925..

UNITE-D STATES PATENT QEEWE- JOSEPH E. PERRAULT, OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HOOD RUB- "BER COMPANY, orwa'rnnrown, iaassaonnsnrrs,reconieoianrron o-rnvmssA- cHUsnrTs;

FLAP CUTTING AND BUILDING MACHINE.

Application fi leddune 26, 1922. Serial No. 570 813,

To alZ whom it may concern Be it known that I JosnrH E. PERRAULT,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of lVatertOWmin the county of Middlesex, in the State of Massachusetts, have'invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Flap 'Cutting and Building Machines, of

which thefollowing is aspeci'lication.

present invention relates to an improved machine designed to sever a traveling web of flexible material into relatively narrow strips, a'n'dto super-pose a plurality of said strips upon each other and wind them upon spoolsordr'ulns.

The apparatus is designed more particularly for: operating upon what is known in the rubber, working art, as friction fabric and is adapted to slit or sever such fabric into strips or ribbons of the same or varying widths and to superpose a plurality of such strips and wind theminto rolls to be subsequently used in the-formation of flaps or liners such as are used between the outer casesor shoes of pneumatic tires and the inner tubes to protect the latter. The invention, ho'wever, is not limited to such use. I have aimed to produce a machine or apparatus which will sever the fabric into strips or ribbons while being continuously fed from supply roll or other source, which will sever or slit the same into 'strips of proper width and super-pose a plurality of strips, and spool the same without wrinkles or other faults, and this in an economical and eliicient manner. Theinvention includes the novel features of construction and arrangement and combination ofparts hereinafter described, the nature and scope of my invention being defined anddetermined by the claims;

My preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure-l is a side elevtion of a machine constructed in accordance with my said invention.

"Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figs. 3 and a are detail views of the power drive. a H i. I

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the tension brake. Fig. 6 is a detail view-of the winding spool or drum shaft, and

I Fig. 7 is a detail View of the cutting rolls and knife. 7

Referring more particularly to these drawings in which the same or like reference characters indicate identicalfor :analogous parts wherever used, the numeral 1 indicates a stock stand carrying bearing brackets 1" designed. to removably and'rotatably support the spool or drum 2-upon which the stock is wound. This stock consisting of rubberized fabric commonly known as friction fabric, is wound withfan interposed liner to 3 prevent the "successive layers from adhering tdeach otli'er a s is commonly done in the rubber manipulating art. V v

Ijrom the supply roll 2, the layers of, rubberized fabric and liner are carried over drum or spool 3 removably androtatably supported by brackets 1 and the'end of the liner being attached or caused :to adhere to the spool 3, travel of the fabric in' thedirection of the-arrow, will by its frictional engagement with the roll or spool, i-Sfcause the latter to rotate, thereby winding the liner 8 on the spool 3 which'can'be removed for re-use. f A

After leaving drum 3, the stock sheet (indicated at 4;) passes over an idle guide roller 5, which .may beconveniently sup: ported by brackets 69 projecting from the. table portion of the main framed supported upon standards 6* After-leaving[guide roller '5 the stock sheet passes-successively around or respectively under and over a plurality of rolls?- by which tension is im-' parted to the stock uponits entry into and passage through the slitting mechanism hereafter described. I

These rollers are closely associated and in order that the tension may be varied one of them 7 has a shaft extension to which is rigidly secured afbrake drum 8"With which cooperates a brake bands; The brake band passes over the drum and has its two depending ends connected to a lever 10 (see Fig. 5) fulcrumed at 10*?"ori the inachine frame, this lever carrying aslidable weight ll provided with means 'such a s wing screw ll fby whichitmay be secured'in any *dje sired position on lever 10 and thus more or less frictional resistance offeredftothe turning of the drum and roll as circumstances require.

In addition to the function of applying tension to the stock these rolls serve to smooth out the sheet and remove any wrinkles that may be present.

After leaving the last roll 7 of the series, the stock passes to and through the slitting mechanism which preferably comprises a series of slitting knives l2 spaced apart a distance correspondingto the desired width of ribbons, a roll 13 having correspondingly spaced annular grooves 13 into which the knives project and a cooperating presser roll 1.4 super-posed on. the roll 13. Roll 13 is, preferably a steelroll, while roll 14 is desirably formed of rubber carried on a steel core 14:, the rolls being journaled in suitable bearings and both being positively driven, by means hereinafter. described, to draw thestock past the slitting knives which slit it into ribbons or strips. The knives 12 are preferably seated in grooves in a sup porting bar 12 and adjustably clamped therein by clamping blocks or members 12".

The stock emerges from the slitting apparatus in the form of strips or ribbons,

which in the embodiment shown in the drawings, are in four groups with four ribbons of each group of varying width, though this specific arrangement is to be regarded as for example only, and may be varied as desired.

These ribbons then pass to what may be termed separating rollers 15", 15 15 and 15, one for each group, said rollers being journaled at different elevations in the standards 6 supported by the main frame. All the ribbons of one width pass or are deflected by one roll; for example, ribbons 4 all pass beneath roll 15, ribbons 4" over roll 15 ribbons/1 over roll 15 and ribbons 4 over topmost roll 15. After leaving the separating rolls the ribbons are given a quarter turn by being passed around the vertical guides 16 which are preferably in the form of idle rollers journaled in cross members 6 supported by the mainframe, after which the said ribbons are passed around the vertical aligning members 17 17, 17 and 17 which are preferably also inthe form of idle rollers journaled in said crossbars 6 There are fourof these aligning rollers, one for each group of ribbons, and their function is to bring all of. the-ribbons of each group into alignment with the respective winding drum, all of the ribbons from aligningmember 17 being led to winding .drum 18, those from 17 to winding drum 18 and, so on, all the ribbons of any 7 one group passing around one and the same aligning roller andbeing brought thereby into a vertical plane which passes centrally through the corresponding winding roller or drum perpendicular to the axis thereof as shown in Fig. 2, the ribbons of varying width of any one group passing around the corresponding aligning roller at different elevations as illustrated in Fig. 1.

From the aligning rolls the ribbons pass around what may be termed the super posing rollers 19, 19 19 and 19, which are preferably located in substantial horizontal alignment with the rolls 15, etc., whereby they are given another quarter and brought again into horizontal position, one above the other. In order to guard against anypossible misalignment in passing "over the super-posing rollers 19, etc, cross bars 20, 20, 20 and 20 are provided, cross bar 20 being supported by the table portion of the mainframe, and the others by the standards 6* in which the rolls 19 etc., are journaled, and these cross bars carry pins or projections 21 arranged in pairs set apart a distance correspondingito the widths of the ribbons.

, From the super-posing rolls the ribbons pass between the collecting or juxtaposing rolls 22 and'28. Theserolls are coupled to rotate in unison, preferably by intermeshing gears 24 and 25, fast on the respective roll shafts, and. driven in the manner hereinafter described so that the rolls 22 and 23 have a slightly higher surface speed than the cuttings rolls 18 and 14, thereby producing a moderate tension on the ribbons in passing the aligning and super-posing rolls, insuring accuracy and constancy of alignment. As the ribbons enter the b ight of rolls 22 and 23 they are juxtaposed or super-imposed one on the other, and by the action of these rolls they are pressed firmly together and their sticky or tacky nature, when the strips or ribbons are of friction fabric, causes them to-adhere and form a compound or laminated strip suitable for use in making tire liners. i

Rotatably supported by brackets 6 car ried by the main frame are parallel rolls 26 and 27, one of which (2(3) is driven by means of sprocket 28 from the shaft of roll25, Standards 29 risin from these brackets have guide ways 29 to receive the ends of shafts a of winding rolls or spools 18 etc., which, when no ribbons are wound thereon, rest upon the surfaces of rolls 26 and 27 and are rotated by contact therewith. Spools or rolls 18 etc, are therefore floating spools, the spool shafts rising in the guide/ways as the ribbons are wound on the spools which continue to rotate due tosuch frictional contact with a surface speed which remains'constant irrespective of the amount of material wound on the spools. f

In Fig. 1 I have shown in dotted lines, the position of a spool (18) when no material is Wound thereon, while the full lines show the roll with a considerable amount of material Wound ther on; the body o the roll being held correspondingly elevated by the outermdst COliVilllitllOIi ofthe material resting on rolls 2'6 and 27. h I V The spools are shown detail in and preferably comprise plain cylinders or drums (18 reiiiovably carried on shafts (Z, and abutting at one end against fixed collars Z) on the shafts and beihg i eihovably held detents c which may conveniently in the time of balls stated iii passagewa s in the shaft. These pa 'sageways have restricted ant ers thro g which are b ns project under the action of springs (Z, screw plugs e servingto keep the parts in place. These spools are preferably made of wood and may be readily pressed onto the shafts, the balls receding to permit the passage of the spools and rising to lock them iii place.

As the guidevays for-,the spool shafts have open upper encls;'sucli shafts are readily removableso that when spool has been filled it may be lifted out, removed from its shaft,,replaced by an empty spool, and replaced in the guideways.

lVhile I have shown and described in detail my preferred winding means, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this specific form, as other winding means could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The preferred form of driving means for the machine will now be described. This comprises a prime mover, conveniently in the form of an electric motor 31 which, through pulley 31, belt 32, and pulley 33 drives shaft 33. Shaft 33 is journaled in a pair of lever arms 34 fulcrumed at 34 and having their opposite ends connected by link 35 with a treadle lever 36 fulcrumed at 36 and having its treadle end 36 normally held elevated by a spring 37.

Shaft 33 has fast thereon a friction wheel or drum 38 which is positioned over a similar friction wheel or drum 39 fast on shaft 40. When treadle lever 36 is elevated friction wheel 38 will be out of contact with drum 39 and the machine will be at rest, but pressure of the foot of an operator on treadle 36 will press friction wheel 38 into contact with wheel 39 and rotate the latter, driving the machine through the connections hereinafter described. By this arrangement the operator has the machine under constant control and may stop it at any time by merely relieving the treadle lever of pressure. lVhile any suitable power transmitting connections may be used to drive the various parts from power shaft 40, I prefer those shown in the drawings which will now be described.

A wormr40 fast on shaft 40 meshes with a worm wheel 41 fast on shaft 41 which in turn carries a sprocket 42. A sprocket chain or link belt 43 passes around this sprocket, and thence successively around a sprocket 44 rolli shaft 22, a s arocket 45 on shaft 45*, and an idle tak'e' up sprocket 4 6 joiiinaled on adjustable bracket 46. Rigidly coiiiie'cted with sprocket 45 or fast onthe same shaft," is a 47 which meshes with a 4 8 which is rigidly connected with the lower cutting roll 13, oi fast on the shaft thereof. The upperroll 14 is driven froiii the loi'ver roll by the internieshiiig gears 49' and 50.

Havifig thus described my invention, what I claim is':--

1'. In apparatus of the class described, slitting means for slitting a travelling sheet intostrips, spaced guides disposed at differ ent elevations in planes parallel to the plane of the" sheet for receiving the strips from said slitting means, spaced guides disposed in plaiies at right angles to said first named guides and arranged to receive the strips therefrom and bring them into alignment, and means for assembling said aligned strips in superposed relatioii;

2. In apparatus of the class described, horizontally disposed slitting means for slitting a traveling sheet. into strips, horizontal- 1y disposed spaced guides adjacent said slitting means and arranged one above the other for receiving said strips therefrom, vertical guides arranged to receive said strips from said horizontal guides and deflect them into vertical alignment, and means for bringing such aligned strips together.

3. In apparatus of the class described, horizontally disposed slitting means for slitting a traveling sheet into strips, two sets of horizontally disposed spaced guides for said strips disposed at different elevations, vertically disposed spaced guides between said sets of horizontal guides, and strip juX- taposing means adjacent one of said sets of guides.

4. In apparatus of the class described, horizontally disposed slitting means for slitting a traveling sheet into strips, a set of vertically aligned horizontally disposed spaced guides adjacent said slitting means, a second set of vertically aligned horizontally disposed spaced guides removed from said first named guides, vertical deflecting guides between said sets of horizontal guides, and means for assembling and pressing together strips emerging from said second set of horizontal guides.

5. In apparatus f the class described, horizontally disposed means for slitting a traveling sheet into strips, a set of horizontally disposed spaced guides adjacent slitting means, a second set of horizontal correspondingly spaced guides removed from said first named guides, a plurality of vertical guides interposed between said first named and second horizontal guides, a single vertical guide between said plurality of vertical guides and said second set of horizontal guides for deflecting said strips into the same vertical plane before passing to said second set of horizontal guides, and means for collecting the strips passing from said second set of horizontal guides.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a horizontally disposed slitting device for slitting a traveling sheet, a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced guides adjacent the same, a plurality of vertically spaced guides succeeding said horizontal guides and corresponding in number to the number of strips to be assembled, a vertical guide common to all said strips positioned to receive them from said plurality of vertical guides, 21 further set of horizontally disposed guides positioned to receive the strips from said common vertical guide, and strip assembling means associated with said last named horizontal guides.

7. In apparatus of the class described, means for slitting a traveling sheet into strips, a plurality of horizontal spaced rollers adjacent said slitting means, a plurality of vertical rollers in rear of said horizontal rollers corresponding in number and position to the strips, a vertical strip deflecting roller in rear of said vertical rollers, a plurality of horizontal rollers in rear of said vertical roller, and strip assembling means in rear of said last named horizontal rollers. 8. In apparatus of the class described, means for slitting a traveling sheet into strips, a plurality of horizontal spaced rollers adjacent said slitting means, a plurality of vertical rollers in rear of said'horizontal rollers corresponding in number and position to the strips, a vertical strip deflecting roller in rear of said vertical rollers, a plurality of horizontal rollers in rear of said vertical roller, fixed strip guides associated with said last named horizontal rollers, and strip assembling means increar of said last named horizontal rollers.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH E. PERRAULT. 

